Railway car truck



May 8, 1934.

K. M. HAMILTON RAILWAY CAR TRUCK s sheets-sheet 1 Filed May 23, 1929 May 8, 1934 i K. M. HAMILTN 1,957,833

' RAILWAY CAR TRUCK Filed may 23. 1929 s sheets-sheet 2' May 8, 1934. K. M. HAMlLTo-N 1,957,833

-RAILWAY CAR TRUCK V Filed May 2 3, 1929 A 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 8, 1934 riso stares PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY CAR TRUCKr poration of Iowa Application May 23, 1929, Serial No. 365,277

11 Claims.

This invention relates to railway car trucks.

An object of the invention is to provide a railway car truckwherein the spring capacity of the saine is increased without increasing the wheel base or clearance dimensions desirable in railway practice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a railway car truck wherein the side frames are of a particular character resulting in increased spring capacity being afforded, and in connection with which a desirable type of spring grouping and bolster construction may be utilized.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a truck having side frames wherein the window opening in each is of greater extent at the top than at the bottom, reversing the usual practice, and in this way reducing the length of the beam effect provided by the spring seat, and thereby affording much greater strength in the side frame construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide side frames of the character referred to wherein the guide columns are spaced apart a less distance at their bottoms than at their tops producing, in addition to the usual functions of the guide columns in spacing the compression and tension members, an additional function which resides in arranging the columns as to themselves act as a secondary tension support, with a consequent shortening of the spring seat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with side frames of the character indicated, a particular type of spring grouping wherein a plurality of longitudinal rows of springs are utilized with a relatively short central row between the guide columns and longer rows outside of the guide columns which results in increased spring capacity utilized in connection with a strengthened side frame construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bolster for co-operation with the side frame construction referred to, and wherein the bolster is endwise insertable between the upper end portions of the guide columns, and means vprovided which form interlocking abutments upon the frame and bolster operable to permit ready detachment and attachment of the bolster with reference to the side frame, and wherein the weight imposed upon the bolster serves to maintain the abutments in operative relation.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevational view of a truck side frame with the bolster springs removed therefrom. Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of a truck, including a side frame, springs and bolster. Figure 3 is a side elevational View of a truck showing side frame, springs and bolster,

in operative position. Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view of the invention corresponding substantially to the line 4 4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 5-5 of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a transverse, vertical, sectional view corresponding substantially to the line 6 6 of Figure 3. Figure 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a portion of one guide column of a side frame showing abutments with which the bolster is adapted to engage. Figure 8 is a side elevational, fragmentary view of the end of the bolster and associated guide column of the side frame and disclosing the interlocking abutments upon the bolster side frame. And Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one end of the bolster utilized in connection with the invention.

The invention broadly comprises side frames indicated by the letter A, springs B and bolster C; although only one side frame is shown in each instance, it will be appreciated that in a complete truck there will be two side frames of similar construction', each containing a similar spring group, and the bolster C will extend between the frames and rest upon the springs carried thereby.

The side frame A comprises a compression member 10 and a tension member 11, these members converging at each end and joined to the journal boxes 12-12. The guide columns are of 9 peculiar construction and are indicated generally by the reference characters 13-13, the guide columns extending between the compression and tension members 10 and 11. The guide columns 13-13 at their upper portions are channel- 95 toward each other, as indicated at 1'7, the offset 105 portions being centrally disposed with'reference to longitudinal axis of the side frame and centrally with respect to a transversely widened spring seat 18, extending between the guide columns.

The lower ends of the columns are iro formed to provide flanges 19-19 which are curved outwardly from the webs 16 and away from each other in opposite directions as best shown in Figure 4, the anges or extensions 19--19 of the offset portions 17 merging at their bottoms into the adjacent portions of the widened spring seat 13. The spring seat 18 at opposite sides of the oiset portions 17-17 of the guide columns is formed to provide spring supports or shelves 20-20 and 21--21. By this arrangement it will be appreciated that the window opening provided by the compression and tension members and the guide columns, is wider at the top than at the bottom, resulting in a diminished eX- tent of the beam effect between the lower ends of the guide columns and forming, in effect, a secondary tension support provided by the columns themselves resulting in increased strength and eiliciency.

As above stated, the spring seat 18 is made somewhat wider transversely of the side frame, and said spring seat is slightly recessed for the accommodation of one end of a spring plank 22. The spring plank 22 at the inner side of the side frame is provided with a strengthening flange 23 at each side, and is broadened as indicated at 24, and adjacent the longitudinal center line of the side frame is narrowed to fit between the offset portions 17,-17 of the guide columns as indicated at 25. Outwardly beyond the longitudinal center line of the side frame, the flanges 23 are terminated as indicated at 26, and the end portion of the plank indicated at 27 is entirely fiat and lies ush with the shelves 20 of the spring seat. The springplank is held in position by the usual bosses 28 on the spring seat extending through openings in the plank.

The springs B are of the usual standard size coiled springs, and may be of the single coil type,

or of the double coil type, as desired. The springs are preferably arranged in three longitudinally extending rows 29, 30 and 31, the row 29 including three springs, with the end units thereof extending longitudinally beyond the offset portions 1'7--17 of the lower ends of the guide columns so as to rest at the inner sides of said offset portions. The central row of springs preferably consists of two spring units arranged between the offset portions 17-17 of the guide columns. The outer row 31 of the'spring units preferably comprises three springs, a central spring and two end springs 32--32. The end springs 32--32 are disposed at the outer side of the offset portions 1'7-17 of the guide columns and rest partially upon the shelves 20-20 and partially upon the end 27 of the spring plank. Suitable spring retaining plates may be provided in the usual manner.

The bolster C is of peculiar construction and since it is of a width corresponding to the width .between the guide Yfaces 15 15 of the upper portions of the columns, means are provided for inserting the bolster endwise between the upper portions of the guide columns, and novel means are provided for retaining the bolster in operative position and for limiting its endwise movement with reference to the side frame. In providing the retaining means referred to, the guide faces 15-15 of the upper portions of the guide columns 13-13 are provided with an upper inwardly eX- tending pair o-f lugs 33 and a lower pair of lugs 34, the lugs being vertically spaced apart as indicated at 35. The lugs 33 and 34 are preferably formed adjacent the outer sides of the guide columns as best shown in Figure '5. The bolster C,

as above stated, has guide faces 36 o-f such width as to engage the guide surfaces 15-15 of the upper portions of the columns. In order to insert the bolster endwise between the columns, spaced abut-ments 3'? and 38 are provided which are spaced outwardly from an abutting wall 39 formed on the bolster, defining the groove 40. With this construction, when it is desired to insert the bolster, the end of the same is placed in position to admit the lugs 33 through the space between the abutments 37 and 38, after which the bolster is dropped or depressed permitting the lugs 33 and 34 to enter the grooves 40 in the bolster so that the abutments 3'7 and 38 bear against the abutting lugs 33 and 34 on the guide columns of the side frame, the bolster in this position, of course, resting upon the springs B.

With the above described construction, it will be apparent that the spring capacity of the truck is increased while the beam eiect of the spring seat is diminished, resulting in a greatly strengthened construction. In providing this arrangement, the various features forming part of ordinary equipment, such as the bolster, the arrangement of the springs, the spring plank, and the like, have all been modified and adopted to carry out the fundamental concept which resides in reduoing weaknesses of the side frames of the truck at crucial points and at the same time increasing the spring-carrying capacity ofthe construction.

frame having a compression member, a tension member, guide columns and a spring seat, said guide columns having their lower end portions spaced `apart a less distance than the upper portions, thereby decreasing the length of the spring seat between said columns; of a group of coil springs arranged in a plurality of longitudinally l extending rows, the springs of the central row being disposed along the longitudinal center line or" the frame between said guide columns, and

the springs of the remaining rows being ar- Y ranged at opposite sides of the central row and the endV units of said remaining rows being disposed at the sides of said guide columns; and a bolster corresponding in width Ywith the space between the upper end of the guide columns and bearing upon said rows of springs.

2. In a truck of the character described, the combination with compression, tension, guide column and spring seat members, said guide column members being substantially channelshaped in cross-section, and the webs thereof being oiset at their bottoms toward each other and the anges at the bottoms of said columns being curved in opposite directions away from each other and merging with said spring seat member; and a spring cluster disposed on said spring seat and extending between the webs and anges at the lower ends of said columns.

3. In a truck of the character described, Vthe combination with a side frame including compression, tension, guide column and spring seat members, said members denning a window opening smaller 'at the bottom than at the top; a spring plank resting upon said spring seat landextending between said columns, said spring seat being lengthened at the outer sides of said columns;

ies

and a spring cluster resting on said spring seat, the end units of the spring cluster at the outer side of the frame resting partially upon the spring seat and partially upon the spring plank.

4. A side frame of the character described, comprising compression, tension and guide column members, said guide column members being transversely narrower at the top and transversely widened at the bottom, the bottom portions of said columns being oiset toward each other, and a spring seat narrower between the oiset portions and elongated at opposite sides of said portions and merging with said transversely widened bottoms of said guide columns.

5. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame including a compression member, tension member and guide columns; a bolster endwise insertible between said guide columns and having stops for engagement with the inner edges of the columns, said guide columns being provided with abutments along the guide faces thereof and said bolster having abutments cut out to permit insertion of said bolster endwise between said columns, the abutments of said side frame and bolster interlocking when the parts are in position to restrain longitudinal movement of the bolster with reference to the side frame.

6. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame having compression, tension and guide column members, the latter being disposed at their bottoms more closely than at their tops, the guide faces of the columns being provided with abutments; a bolster having abutments arranged to permit endwise insertion of the bolster between the upper end portions of the columns, said abutments interlocking when the parts are in position; and springs interposed between the side frame and the bolster.

'1. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame including compression, tension, guide column and spring seat members, said guide columns being offset toward each other substantially along the longitudinal center line of the frame; a spring cluster disposed on said spring seat and including a plurality of longitudinally extending rows of springs, the central row being disposed between the offset portions of said columns and the outer rows of springs extending longitudinally beyond the oiset portions of said columns; abutments disposed along the guiding faces of said guide columns; a bolster having spaced abutments permitting endwise insertion of the bolster with reference to the upper portions of said guide columns, said abutments being adapted to interlock when the parts are in operative position.

8. In a truck of the character described, the combination with a side frame including a cornpression member, tension member and guide columns; a bolster endwise insertable and vertically movable between said guide columns, said columns being provided with vertically spaced abutment means along the said guide faces and said bolster having vertically spaced abutment means permitting of insertion of said bolster endwise between said columns, when the abutments on the bolster are aligned with the spaces between the abutments on the column guide faces, the abutments of said side frame and bolster interlocking when the bolster is moved vertically to operative position to restrain longitudinal movement of the bolster with reference to the side frame.

9. A side frame construction including guide columns having bolster guide faces and integral abutments arranged on said guide faces and projecting inwardly toward each other, the abutments on each guide face being spaced apart vertically. Y

10. A side frame construction comprising tension, compression and guide column members defining a window opening larger at the top than at the bottom, said guide columns having guide faces provided with abutment means projecting inwardly toward each other beyond the guide faces of said guide column, said abutment means on each column guide face being divided to provide a slot therethrough.

11. A bolster construction having outstanding stops for engagement with the inner edges of the guide columns of a side frame and having guide faces adapted to engage the guide faces of the guide columns, the guide faces of said bolster being provided with abutments arranged ush with said guide faces and defined by recesses eX- tending inwardly of said guide faces.

KARL M. HAMILTON.

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